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Martin Luther King Fee Free Weekend

Pipestone, MN: In honor of Martin Luther King Holiday the Pipestone National Monument and other National Park Service (NPS) sites around the country will be offering fee-free entry into the parks from January 14th to 16th.

Many people have made resolutions to spend more quality time with loved ones and to get outdoors and unplug in 2012. There's no better place than a national park to help keep those resolutions. Parks offer superb recreational opportunities, making them perfect places to enjoy our beautiful land, history, and culture, and nurture a healthy lifestyle.

Pipestone National Monument attracted more than 62680 visitors in 2011 from the United States and 79 foreign countries. The Monument offers an opportunity to explore American Indian culture and the natural resources of the tallgrass prairie. Established by Congress in 1937 to protect the historic pipestone quarries, the site is considered sacred by many American Indians. Spanning centuries of use, American Indians continue to quarry pipestone which they carve into sacred pipes.

Superintendent Glen Livermont encourages everyone to take advantage of the fee free opportunity and visit the Monument to celebrate the Martin Luther King Holiday. "Stopping by the monument in the winter time gives visitors new perspective on this valued local resource. Visitors should dress warmly as they enjoy the wildlife and natural areas of the prairie from the trails. Bring a camera and send us your photos! Winter photography can be extremely enjoyable."

About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 395 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov